Success Stories

Canberra’s #1 Martial Arts Venue

WELCOME TO CANBERRA MARTIAL ARTS

Our facility is unlike any gym you’ve been to before. We pride ourselves in not only providing world class training but we also believe in creating a motivating, dynamic environment filled with like-minded people of all ages and body types, who are committed to working hard and achieving lasting fitness results. We love what we do and it shows on the gym floor. Come in for a free trial class, make some friends and get fit fast!

Around 8 yrs old, decided on my own to start training, my parents didn’t make me go ever. One of my distant friends was training, along with lots of people I recognized in my community. They all left through the years and I decided to stay, despite changeovers in instructors 4 times as well. I think that’s success for a kid/teenager. As a result, I got the long term benefits mentally, physically and I gained the disciple to train hard at home all my life. I reached my peak at 16 but was told I was too old for a junior black belt and too young for a senior black belt so I waited. Just the next year I quickly learned life started to get more complicated and therefore harder to focus: college, uni, work, having a family. I’ve been training on and off for the last 10 years but never was able to peak like that again. Being older I also started noticing flaws in the organization, stayed loyal and determined as previously but those flaws started becoming unfair which made it hard to excel. Also, after having my first born I felt like I lost most of my identity and needed to reconnect with my old self, it was a success for me not to give up and stop forever despite obstacles and that I found this club and supportive team at 27. Taekwondo is also my happy place. I’m looking forward to the future!

Monika Trajanoska

Had a bad car accident at 27 years old and was told I’d never do any sport again. 35 years old and I met an amazing doctor who helped me and he help me set up a good support team of physiotherapists and massage therapists. Started taekwondo at 37 years old and at first every lesson meant days of pain and intensive physiotherapy afterwards. But slowly i was getting fitter and stronger through taekwondo. Finally at 41 years old I was strong enough to take on obstacle racing and of course that meant Tough Mudder (21 km obstacle course). I still have physio but it’s now only once a month (and not as intensive as it used to be). Everyday I’m at taekwondo is a massive win for me. I love training. It’s my happy place.

Eilleen Eugenio

Started as a child and now after 32 years of Taekwondo, I’ve got my black belt. Helped many others achieve theirs. Trained people of all ages. Met some of the best friends ever. Trained champions. Become a champion. Met, trained with and competed against many from overseas. And made friends with lots of them too. Had the opportunity to visit different countries. Became an international instructor (IV degree). Crossed of lots on my bucket list.

Paul Bailey

The one-off Women’s Self Defence course was a great introduction to Hapkido and targeted self defence techniques. What I didn’t expect was that the concept that would resonate with me most would be developing my confidence to act in situations requiring defensive tactics. Thanks for a mental and physical learning experience!

Kellie

Awesome course, great to share it with so many other women. The Instructor really layered the learning well so that by the end, I felt like i had an arsenal and had the confidence to use it. I guess even though I’m not into fighting talk, in the context of women’s self defence, that’s a good thing.

Jackie

Fantastic course! I learned so much in 3 hours that I will carry with me for life! I would recommend this to any woman who wants to know equip themselves with skills and knowledge to feel safe.

Liz

I will tell my story a little differently and start midway through my martial arts journey. I got injured early this year in January of 2017. It was a pretty devastating part of my life, coming to the realisation that my right knee and leg would never fully be as functional as it once was. For the initial month or two I dwelled on this fact and was pretty down on my luck, but like with any injury, you get back on your feet and start finding out what you can do. I attended class on the sidelines to support my fellow members at Canberra Martial Arts/Hapkido Canberra and support my partner who was still training. As time passed I realised that my ability as a member of Canberra Martial Arts was not limited to what I could do with my leg and that I could still be a perfectly capable member and be able to learn and support the members of the dojang in other means, such as helping around the dojang or sanity checking a technique. This was a spiritual lesson and realisation through my recovery which mirrored much of what was taught on the mats. Much like how there are many ways to perform or approach a technique or opponent, life is the same in that there are many ways to tackle a problem. And at the core of all this, it is vital to stay positive throughout the failures and use it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Fast forward to now and I am happy to say I am back on the mats training. Although my right leg is still weak (for now), I will find other ways to approach a technique and strive to do my best to work towards reaching black belt and beyond. Hapkido at Canberra Martial Arts is more than simply just a self defence artform, but a way to better yourself in your everyday life. Much of the lessons you learn on the mats can and will help you approach everyday life with a different perspective for the better. Highly recommend it to anyone who considers taking it up.

Long NHapkido

I haven’t done anything even vaguely like Hapkido in my life but in my 50s I was thinking that I needed to push myself to keep taking physical risks. I’d had brain surgery and was afraid to fall down. It’s been a big hurdle. To others it doesn’t mean much but to me it does.

Coralie D Hapkido

I began training at Canberra Martial Arts (formerly Hapkido Canberra) in late September 2016, after a decade long hiatus from any form of Martial Arts training. After just one trial lesson I immediately fell in love with Hapkido and signed up right there and then – the start of my Hapkido journey. Since then I have acquired new and exciting skills and job-specific crowd control/arrest techniques, participated in several gradings/tests through which I have obtained my Blue 3 stripe belt (4th Gup) currently and will be attempting to grade/test for my Red Belt (3rd Gup) at the end of the year. I also plan to obtain my 1st Dan Black Belt in 2018. Through my time at Canberra Martial Arts, I have met and continue to meet an amazing, diverse group of likeminded people and am developing long-lasting, close friendships. I have begun to see my confidence grow every day and gain a better understanding of myself and what I can achieve if I put the effort in. I am looking forward to the challenges, experiences, and opportunities that lay ahead on my Hapkido path with the new friends and colleagues that I have made here at Canberra Martial Arts.

Benja RHapkido

I came to my first Hapkido class knowing nothing. Now after 5 awesome fun sessions with amazing instruction I have learnt basic self defense techniques, am slowly becoming more coordinated and being put through a total body work-out. Hapkido is great fuel for the body, mind and spirit and the friendly, community atmosphere keeps me coming back for more.

No Author

Love the concept of this Centre. I am in the taekwon-do stream. I have studied taekwon-do for several years previously but Danny has taken my knowledge of and practise of the art to a much deeper understanding. I recently did a combined taekwon-do and hapkido class run by both Tom and Danny and enjoyed it thoroughly. Having a Centre that gives you in depth learning as well as good exposure to complementary martial arts is fantastic. I highly recommend this Centre to everyone!

EileenTaeKwonDo

When I first started Hapkido in Oct 2015, the idea of attaining a black belt was daunting. People from various areas of my life had stacked reasons against me: – I’m too small/not athletically built. – My joints won’t be able to handle the strain. – I’m so busy with work and my Masters degree, I can’t commit the hours needed for martial arts success. – I’m female so I will always lose against my male counterparts. In short, there were plenty of non-martial artists telling me “NO!”. Where people have told me “No”, I’ve told myself “Hell, why not?” and now I can say: – Being small can be advantageous. Just gotta learn how to work it. – Stronger muscles means better supported joints. My wrists, elbows, knees and back don’t hurt anywhere near as they did before. – I get 24 hours in a day like everyone else. I make time for things I love or find important. – Being female means I will be underestimated (but we all know better ). Good luck to any male (or female) that underestimates me! Fast forward 2 years, I am so close to going for 1st Dan. Actually, I’m determined to get it in 2018.

Cat THapkido

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